The Progressive People’s Party (PPP), has appealed to the Majority in Parliament to reject the renegotiated Africa and Middle East Resources Investment Group (AMERI) deal, describing the new agreement as “a stab on the back of the Ghanaian”.
“We find it mind-boggling to appreciate why the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is in a hurry to renegotiate and extend beyond 15-years, a deal whose lifespan will soon elapse in the next two years, after which the nation will fully own the whole power plant,” it said.
In a statement signed and issued by Murtala Mohammed, the National Secretary, said the party was worrisome government would want to renegotiate a deal it criticised in opposition and extend it to 15 years with two years left on the deal.
It is in reaction to the Executive’s approval of a renegotiated deal which would take ownership of the AMERI power plant and give it to a new company to run for 15 years.
The PPP and other critics to the agreement pointed out that since the agreement with AMERI was Build, Own, Operate and Transfer, the government should allow the deal to expire for the nation to take ownership of the plant.
The statement said instead of seeking to extend the contract, the NPP government should have rather prosecuted the National Democratic Congress (NDC) officials they claimed contributed to shortchange the state.
“The previous deal agreed in February 2015 under the Mahama-led administration with AMERI to Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) a power plant with 10 Gas Turbines producing a guaranteed output of 230MW at a cost of $510million for five years has proven to be more beneficial after three years than what has been proposed in Parliament by the Akufo-Addo-led administration for parliamentary approval.
“What happened to the proposed renegotiation suggestion recommended by the Addison Committee to protect the national purse and save the nation some money
“We implore government to explore the alternative source of energy like wind energy, solar energy and biomass to complement the existing traditional source.
“We call on the NPP Majority, with oversight responsibility to the Executive, to be patriotic enough to throw the agreement out to save the little image of the August House and not appear to be a rubber stamp parliament.
“The government should concentrate on paying the balance due and free Ghanaians from both AMERI and Mytilinoes,” the statement said. –myjoyonline.com
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS